Search found 1099 matches

by linuxuser
Tue Feb 05, 2013 10:52 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help With Portfolio....
Replies: 14
Views: 1357

Re: Help With Portfolio....

Woody999 wrote:
linuxuser wrote:A duplicate post by Woody from October 2012
http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtop ... &p=1519707
Our 401Ks have completely changed so I wanted another evaluation. Is this ok? If not, please delete this thread.
What has changed in your 401Ks????
The same fund choices are there now as what you listed back in October 2012.
by linuxuser
Tue Feb 05, 2013 10:21 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help With Portfolio....
Replies: 14
Views: 1357

Re: Help With Portfolio....

A duplicate post by Woody from October 2012
http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtop ... &p=1519707
by linuxuser
Tue Feb 05, 2013 10:08 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: do you charge everything to 1 credit card?
Replies: 60
Views: 6726

Re: do you charge everything to 1 credit card?

Discover card for 2% on restaurants and gas. But you can only get a statement credit at $50.
I will probably stop using it when I reach $50.

Just got a Bank of America which is 3% on gas so I will be using it for gas except when Chase Freedom has 5% on gas.

BoA says 2% for groceries but I am not sure whether Walmart and Target classifies as "groceries".
With Barclays, they are.
by linuxuser
Tue Feb 05, 2013 9:56 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help With Portfolio....
Replies: 14
Views: 1357

Re: Help With Portfolio....

Woody999 wrote:We have been in forbearance for 3 years because we think it may not make sense to pay it off.
I am not familiar with students loans. Are you saying you don't plan on repaying any of the loans?
Are you able to do that?
by linuxuser
Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:59 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: First Time Ever, Blank Slate
Replies: 6
Views: 881

Re: First Time Ever, Blank Slate

Do you know what funds are available in your company's 401K?
I ask this because often times people will have to allocate money to their Roth IRA to compensate for an unavailable option in the 401K.
by linuxuser
Mon Feb 04, 2013 10:28 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investment Suggestions
Replies: 4
Views: 697

Re: Investment Suggestions

Doesn't the answer depend on what other investments you have?

If you invest in a mutual fund, it will throw off your asset allocation of stocks vs bonds.
by linuxuser
Mon Feb 04, 2013 10:20 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Late Start / Low Income HELP!
Replies: 13
Views: 1704

Re: Late Start / Low Income HELP!

For your down payment money, you may want to look into i-Bonds.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/theboglehea ... e-i-bonds/
by linuxuser
Mon Feb 04, 2013 9:59 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 401K Fund Choices - Best of a Bad Situation (Valic/DWS)
Replies: 7
Views: 4786

Re: 401K Fund Choices - Best of a Bad Situation (Valic/DWS)

retiredjg wrote:most people find they need a stock fund in the 401k too.
I would agree with that.

I answered his question the way I did based on his first question -- Is it worth diversifying within the available bond funds? -- because I thought he was only interested in bond funds for his wife's 401K.
by linuxuser
Mon Feb 04, 2013 8:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Garage Door Opener Installation Question
Replies: 27
Views: 5631

Re: Garage Door Opener Installation Question

I'd go with the dedicated garage door company.
As for doing it yourself, one look at the installation instructions would stop me cold. LOL.
by linuxuser
Mon Feb 04, 2013 7:54 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: High or low cost for my Roth IRA
Replies: 6
Views: 1335

Re: High or low cost for my Roth IRA

When Bogleheads talk about low cost mutual funds, they are referring to the expense ratio.
For example the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund has an expense ratio of 0.17%.
As a comparison, the Fidelity Large Stock Fund has an expense ratio of 1.03% which is 6x more than the Vanguard.
by linuxuser
Sun Feb 03, 2013 4:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What's your usual retirement day like ?
Replies: 205
Views: 55021

Re: What's your usual retirement day like ?

I would like to volunteer at the local homeless shelter and be a homework tutor for the kids.
by linuxuser
Sun Feb 03, 2013 3:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 2 dead electrical outlets in basement
Replies: 23
Views: 4273

Re: 2 dead electrical outlets in basement

I will start looking for any tripped GFIs.
According to the circuiter break box, there ones for the bathrooms and ones for the kitchen.

And, yes the outlets used to work. One of them is for the alarm system's AC adapter. The other was "unused".

EDIT:
That was it. The GFI in the garage was tripped.
I don't know what caused. It would help to know what was conntected to what in this house.

Thank you all so much! Saved me $$$.
by linuxuser
Sun Feb 03, 2013 11:57 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 2 dead electrical outlets in basement
Replies: 23
Views: 4273

2 dead electrical outlets in basement

I went to use the Shop Vac today and found that two outlets are both dead.
The interesting thing is that the wires (there are two) at the back of the outlet box go to two different places.
They go up to the basement ceiling and then one wire goes to the left and one wire goes to the right.

I tugged at the wires at the back of the outlet box, and they seemed secure.

No circuit breakers is tripped.

This has me stumped.

I will have to hire an electrician, but I am curious if anyone has an idea what happened.
by linuxuser
Sun Feb 03, 2013 9:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: does water pipe "insulation" work?
Replies: 32
Views: 9862

Re: does water pipe "insulation" work?

I guess I don't understand plumbing, because I don't understand how you can force the still-not-hot hot water to the cold water pipe. Isn't the cold water TO the faucet? Not from the faucet? The best way to understand this is to understand that there is no direction when it comes to water pipes. There is no "to" or "from". It's all a matter of pressure differentials. Without a recirculation pump, water just seems to have a direction because the only source of pressurized water is outside of the house (either the water company or the well). But that's just an artifact of the setup, not a requirement of plumbing. A hot water recirculation pump without a dedicated return line uses the cold water pipes as an indirect return...
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 8:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Rule #6- Chose index funds (questioning the Math)
Replies: 41
Views: 4428

Re: Rule #6- Chose index funds (questioning the Math)

[Response to rude / snarky comments removed by admin LadyGeek]
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 7:30 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Master Thread for Philadelphia PA Area Bogleheads Chapter
Replies: 213
Views: 115351

Re: Philly Meeting 2 Feb 2013

Is the meeting always in King of Prussia or does the location vary?
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 7:24 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Need a little basic portfolio/asset allocation advice
Replies: 14
Views: 1998

Re: Need a little basic portfolio/asset allocation advice

Yes, the Vanguard fund would be good. I missed it.

If you invest your Schwab in the same percentage as your 401K, you will have 50% international in stocks, so be aware of that.
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 7:20 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Rule #6- Chose index funds (questioning the Math)
Replies: 41
Views: 4428

Re: Rule #6- Chose index funds (questioning the Math)

zero-sum game

finite number of corporate stock shares

I see now that you are the same person asking about the Merrill Lynch stock screening a few days.

Sounds like you don't want to believe in the Boglehead philosophy. Fine.
[Snarky comment removed by admin LadyGeek]
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 7:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: .....
Replies: 43
Views: 5619

Re: Should I take the full-time offer?

Curlyq wrote:[Personally identifiable information removed by admin LadyGeek]
Of course, it was all his doing. HR doesn't get involved with any of that.

However, don't be surprised if management takes it as a bunch of "pampered" women who have had it easy, and he is just the guy to "whip everyone in shape".
It could be very well that management is playing hardball and in on what he is doing. I don't have much faith in corporate America (mainly male).
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 7:12 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: does water pipe "insulation" work?
Replies: 32
Views: 9862

Re: does water pipe "insulation" work?

serbeer wrote:
linuxuser wrote:How does it work????

I read their explanation, but I still don't get it.
http://www.chilipepperapp.com/Howit.htm
I guess I don't understand plumbing, because I don't understand how you can force the still-not-hot hot water to the cold water pipe.
Isn't the cold water TO the faucet? Not from the faucet?
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 7:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: does water pipe "insulation" work?
Replies: 32
Views: 9862

Re: does water pipe "insulation" work?

nisiprius wrote:In our house, there is about a 12-foot run of formerly-bare pipe from the water heater until it vanishes into the wall and becomes inaccessible. I bought some of the slitted foam tubes you mentioned and put them over the pipe, a very fast and easy job. It didn't work miracles but it did make a very noticeable difference. I didn't make any measurements but the water on the second floor gets much hotter much faster. Given that it's so cheap and easy, no plumbing, no power, I'd do it.
My water heater is located in the basement in one corner of the house so that run of bare pipe is close to 12 feet as well.
Task for tomorrow!
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 6:26 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Need a little basic portfolio/asset allocation advice
Replies: 14
Views: 1998

Re: Need a little basic portfolio/asset allocation advice

I don't think BlackRock Equity Index is a total stock market index, so you may be missing some mid-cap and small-cap which you can make up with your Roth IRA.

As for Schwab they have the necessary index funds both as mutual funds and as ETFs. So, it seems a wash to me.

By the way, you should try locating the 401K documentation. There should be a brochure that explains each of the choices. In there should be the ticker symbol.
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 6:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: does water pipe "insulation" work?
Replies: 32
Views: 9862

Re: does water pipe "insulation" work?

How does it work????

I read their explanation, but I still don't get it.
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 5:59 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Need a little basic portfolio/asset allocation advice
Replies: 14
Views: 1998

Re: Need a little basic portfolio/asset allocation advice

My previous answer remains unchanged: Bond Index Fund - 0.07 % ER, Equity Index Fund - 0.07% ER (apparently it is S&P 500), and possibly International Index - 0.15% ER for your 401K.

If you have only 3 funds, it makes it simple to calculate how much you should allocate to each.
I just re-balanced to 48% bonds by exchanging some of my Total Stock Market Index in my Rollover IRA to Total Bond Market Index.
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 4:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: does water pipe "insulation" work?
Replies: 32
Views: 9862

Re: does water pipe "insulation" work?

Thanks!

Looks like it is good for the time when I am home and awake for the exposed pipes in the basement.
Running the water for that length of time seems so wasteful. I guess I should buy some buckets and fill them up with water and use them to flush the toilet.
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 4:33 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Need a little basic portfolio/asset allocation advice
Replies: 14
Views: 1998

Re: Need a little basic portfolio/asset allocation advice

I follow the 3-fund "Lazy" portfolio.
http://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Lazy_Portfolios

the suggestions for doing that with Schwab ETFs can be found at http://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Three-fu ... head-style


As a result, in your 401K, the only funds I like is Vanguard Total Bond Market Index and Blackrock Equity Index (S&P 500)
Are there any other funds you are not listing?

What you need to do is use an Excel spreadsheet to calculate your percentages.
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 3:17 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: does water pipe "insulation" work?
Replies: 32
Views: 9862

does water pipe "insulation" work?

I was in Home Depot the other day and I saw insulation for water pipes. Basically foam tubes with a slit along the entire length.
I have to run the water for 30+ seconds first thing in the morning before the it is warm enough to use.
Would buying something like this work?
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 3:06 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New investor with NY State; needs advice
Replies: 17
Views: 2093

Re: New investor with NY State; needs advice

If by pre-tax, you mean contribute to the state employee's equivalent of a 401K, the answer is a resounding YES.
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 3:03 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Suggested Assest Allocation for Funds (2.5 year horizon)
Replies: 9
Views: 1456

Re: Suggested Assest Allocation for Funds (2.5 year horizon)

I went back to school after 2 years. At that time I wasn't a Boglehead, but if I was, I would not be concerning myself with asset allocation for income.
The goal is retirement money.
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 3:01 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Portfolio Advice: Getting on track then sticking to it
Replies: 6
Views: 2338

Re: Portfolio Advice: Getting on track then sticking to it

For someone of your age 20% bonds is about right. 30% if you are more conservative.

For your 401K, I would keep the FXSIX and add SPTN US BOND IDX IS (FXSTX) and jettison everything else.
Your wife's 401K sounds okay.
Use your Roth IRA for funds you are missing.

Use Excel to get the percentages right.

Many Bogleheads use http://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Lazy_Portfolios
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 2:50 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Suggested Assest Allocation for Funds (2.5 year horizon)
Replies: 9
Views: 1456

Re: Suggested Assest Allocation for Funds (2.5 year horizon)

Fotivator wrote: I can meet my target amount with my current monthly contributions and an 8.9% interest rate over the next 30 months.
Your target amount for what? Is this your grad school tuition money and you need 8.9% interest to reach your target?
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 2:26 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: New investor with NY State; needs advice
Replies: 17
Views: 2093

Re: New investor with NY State; needs advice

Hello, I'm extremely new to investing and need all the help I can get. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Some stats: I'm 26, and have 6 months with New York State civil service. My salary is $37,000. I plan to be contributing to deferred compensation until retirement (which will be in a long time and I intend to stay with NY state) and am not sure whether to pick the Roth 457b or the traditional 457b. What's confusing me is that I read in "mutual funds for dummies" that: "for those in the four highest fed income tax brackets, the tax rate on stock dividends and long term capital gains is just 15 %." Does this mean that everyone in the highest income tax brackets who has stock dividends and long term capital ...
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 2:18 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Need a little basic portfolio/asset allocation advice
Replies: 14
Views: 1998

Re: Need a little basic portfolio/asset allocation advice

dmauder wrote: My question is.... When figuring out your asset allocation, do you typically treat each account individually (Rollover IRA, ROTH IRA, taxed account, etc) and diversify each among the various asset classes?
The answer is no. You consider your portfolio in its entirety. I only have bonds index in my IRAs because that is the place to put them.

Until we know what your investments are in your 401K and your wife's 401K, it is hard to advise what you should do with your entire portfolio.
You should edit your post to follow the format outlined in http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtop ... f=1&t=6212
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 10:25 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Porfolio Review / State Tax Exclusion ? (age late 20s)
Replies: 5
Views: 1528

Re: Porfolio Review and Questions (age late 20s)

nightpharmer09 wrote: However, since I will have no employer provided pension income, my 401(k) distributions in retirement should be at least partially state income tax-free.
Is this Kentucky only? I hadn't heard of this.
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 9:50 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: A needed reminder
Replies: 4
Views: 1120

Re: A needed reminder

My father died 3 years ago at 73. He only just retired 10 months before he died.
He could have retired sooner but with his seniority he had a parking spot close to the building, etc. etc.
My maternal grandmother died from Alzheimer's complications at 79.

So, things don't look promising.

I am strongly considering retiring later this year at 50.
I say retire as in quitting my current job and supplementing my income with contract jobs.
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 9:34 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Late Start: Seeking Advice on Finances [Portfolio, general]
Replies: 5
Views: 884

Re: Late Start: Seeking Advice on Finances [Portfolio, gener

Since you are not covered by a retirement plan at work, you should contribute to a Traditional IRA. Your $5500 is fully deductible. http://www.irs.gov/Retirement-Plans/2013-IRA-Deduction-Limits-Effect-of-Modified-AGI-on-Deduction-if-You-Are-NOT-Covered-by-a-Retirement-Plan-at-Work Then, pay off the student loan as fast as you can. Where else are you going to be able to earn 7% on your money????? At the same time you need to build up your emergency fund. If you don't use up all the 8K at Wells Fargo on the engagement ring, that can be the starter for your emergency fund. High-yield CDs are not for emergency fund money. The interest rates at Wells Fargo are ridiculously low. Find another local bank to do your banking with and set up an online...
by linuxuser
Sat Feb 02, 2013 7:40 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: uses for old laptop?
Replies: 28
Views: 5676

Re: uses for old laptop?

Rich Cape Cod wrote:I have an old XP Dell that I use as a dedicated MagicJack machine (VOIP telephone). Works great for that purpose.

Rich
Excellent idea. The shame about this laptop is that it has a nice big 15" 4:3 LCD just underpowered.
by linuxuser
Fri Feb 01, 2013 9:45 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Two Comma Club
Replies: 200
Views: 48026

Re: Two Comma Club

I don't differentiate between 401K + IRA and taxable accounts.
It is all money and all yours.
by linuxuser
Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:31 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: What's the ratio of retired/not retired on this forum?
Replies: 41
Views: 7058

Re: What's the ratio of retired/not retired on this forum?

LAlearning wrote:Pre-retired?
I have just come to the realization that I am pre-tired.
I can retire but want to contnue working preferably in consultant job that is 6 months in the year.
by linuxuser
Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:30 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: What's the ratio of retired/not retired on this forum?
Replies: 41
Views: 7058

Re: What's the ratio of retired/not retired on this forum?

I have just come to the realization that I am pre-tired.
I can retire but want to contnue working preferably in consultant job that is 6 months in length.
by linuxuser
Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:19 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Suggestion for 401k funds
Replies: 6
Views: 1176

Re: Suggestion for 401k funds

Since you have no debt, you should look into refinancing that mortgage.
by linuxuser
Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: uses for old laptop?
Replies: 28
Views: 5676

Re: uses for old laptop?

Dibbels81 wrote:I just popped a new 1gb ram stick into my 2005 HP ZV6000, which runs XP and had 512 MB of RAM (now 1.25 gb). It went from barely functional to being a serviceable laptop. I'm very pleased with the result. Try adding some RAM into yours.
The C840 takes a max of 1GB. I can make it 768MB instead of 640MB, but that is about it because I don't have a spare 512MB stick around.
by linuxuser
Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:07 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Suggestion for 401k funds
Replies: 6
Views: 1176

Re: Suggestion for 401k funds

Without knowing the rest of your portfolio, in other words, what other savings you have and in what they are invested, it is hard to give a good answer.

However, the only two funds I would be interested in from your 401K are SSgA S&P 500 Index Securities Lending Series Fund Class VIII 0.36% and SSgA U.S. Bond Index Securities Lending Series Fund Class VII - 0.47%
by linuxuser
Fri Feb 01, 2013 4:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: uses for old laptop?
Replies: 28
Views: 5676

Re: uses for old laptop?

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions.


I thought I would update everyone.
I ended up installing Windows Virtual Server 2005 R2 on it.
I know this laptop's vintage is limiting what I can do, it still slightly exceeds the system requirement of Virtual Server 2005 R2.
Besides the VS 2005 R2 is free, so good for learning.
Next up will be Windows Sharepoint Services also free.
by linuxuser
Fri Feb 01, 2013 4:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Trying to learn-- near retirement-TIAA CREF [Portfolio Help]
Replies: 11
Views: 2368

Re: Trying to learn-- near retirement

Welcome

I am confused by what is available in your 403b.
You need to put expense ratios for the funds along with their ticker symbols.

Whether you can retire or not depends on whether you will be receiving a pension and the amount of portfolio.

For someone who is 57, I would think 50% bonds would be more appropriate.
by linuxuser
Fri Feb 01, 2013 1:50 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Locking in short-term capital gains during unemployment?
Replies: 22
Views: 3525

Re: Locking in short-term capital gains during unemployment?

Also look into tIRA to Roth IRA conversion.
I wish I had done that in 2007.
by linuxuser
Fri Feb 01, 2013 1:25 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Where to Invest Emergency Fund and Money that's in ING?
Replies: 23
Views: 4166

Re: Where to Invest Emergency Fund and Money that's in ING?

FinancialDave wrote: As far as emergency fund I would NOT "invest" it. That is not the purpose of it.
+1

About the best rate you can get for emergency fund money is 1%.
You don't want to be selling something at a loss just because an emergency came up and you needed the money immediately.
by linuxuser
Thu Jan 31, 2013 8:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: uses for old laptop?
Replies: 28
Views: 5676

uses for old laptop?

I have a Dell Latitude C800 with a brand new 30GB hard drive.
I have Windows XP installed.
The laptop is Pentium 4 with 640MB of RAM.

I don't want to load Linux on it, because I already use Linux on my main laptop.

I was thinking of running Windows Virtual Server 2005 on it, but I am not sure if that will bring the laptop to a crawl.

EDIT: It is a C840 which means faster processor and 1 GB RAM max.